Biography

Known for her excellent sound and engaging stage performances, German guitarist Nelly von Alven (*1990) got numerous awards and prizes at national and international competitions such as 4th prize at the “International Twents Guitar Competition”(NL), 3rd prize at the “Barmenia-Competition” (GER), and 3rd prize at the “International Guitar Competition Gevelsberg” (GER). In 2016, Nelly received the 1st prize at the “RCM Guitar Competition” (UK).

Nelly regularly performs live on stage and has been invited to several guitar festivals for recitals and Masterclasses such as “Internationales Bergisches Gitarrenfestival”, “Bielefelder Gitarrenforum”, “Internationale Giessener Gitarrentage”, “Gitarrenfestival Ruhr” and the “International Guitar Festival London”. As part of the Bielefelder Guitar Ensemble, Nelly has been on tour to Czech Republic, Bosnia, Estonia and Peru.

In 2015, Nelly’s debut CD Canto spirituoso was produced and published by Fibonacci Records. The album contains several debut recordings out of which some are her own compositions.

Since 2013, Nelly is a scholarship holder of the Yehudi-Menuhin-Foundation Live-Music-Now, which organizes concerts in special venues such as schools, hospitals, retirement homes, hospices and prisons.

In 2015, Nelly completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Music Cologne, Germany with Gerhard Reichenbach and has continued studies at the Royal College of Music in London with Gary Ryan and Chris Stell in order to complete a Master of Performance. Furthermore, Nelly has taken masterclasses of renowned artists such as Zoran Dukic, Marcin Dylla and David Russel. In March 2017, she performed Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Freien Sinfoniker Bielefeld in Germany.
Nelly is an RCM Award Holder and currently holds a Keith Poole Award.

Since 2016, Nelly is also supported by the “Worshipful Company of Musicians” in London. As a prizewinner and part of the Company’s Yeomen-Programme, Nelly is supported by providing finance, experience, mentoring, training, networks and profile. Nelly is regularly doing outreaches in schools for the Musician’s Company.  Since 2016, Nelly also performs in the NOVA Guitar Duo, together with Luiz Mantovani. Inspired by the possibilities allowed by the unusual combination of the 6 and the 8-string guitar, also known as “Brahms-guitar”, the NOVA Guitar Duo explores both the extensive repertoire for guitar duo and their own transcriptions and arrangements of music originally written for other instruments and ensembles. The duo has appeared often in London, including a recital at the “London International Guitar Festival”, at Kings Place in 2016. They recently performed the UK premiere of Germaine Tailleferre’s Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra in London. Upcoming performances for 2017 will include a recital at Wigmore Hall and the Buxton Festival.

Musicians’ Company Award: RCM Lambert Scholarship 2015

Page Updated: 2017